Earliest meeting: Thursday 18th April 1839
Final meeting: Wednesday 8th April 1846
The Norfolk village of Barnham Broom is on the River Yare and situated some 9 miles west of the county town of Norwich. Today it boasts a population of barely 500, but it did stage races in the middle of the 19th century. The first meeting took place on Thursday 18th April 1839 on a 3 ½ mile course of ‘fair hunting country’ on the outskirts of the village. A much larger meeting, under the Stewardship of Lord Suffield, took place on Wednesday 8th April 1846 offering a 3 race card. Entries had to be made at the Royal Hotel, Norwich and some members of the parish objected to racing taking place in the parish, meaning almost at the last moment the final day of racing took place on a course at nearby Colton. The course began in a field owned by Mr F Ives and wound its way towards Barnham Broom, confronting difficult leaps of every description. The Hurdle race was won by Mr Peel’s Captain Spry, while the opening Sweepstake went to Mr G Blake’s Regalia. After racing a dinner was hosted by Lord Suffield at the Royal Hotel.
Wednesday 8th April 1846
Barnham Broom Sweepstakes
1. Little John, aged horse owned by Mr Beaumont
2. Novice, aged horse owned by Mr Gowing
3. Shamrock, aged horse owned by Lord Suffield
The extract below is taken from Bell's Life & Sporting Chronicle Sunday 12th April 1846 and is shown courtesy of the British Library Online:-
Much of the information about this course has been found using internet research and is in the public domain. However, useful research sources have been:-
London Illustrated News
Racing Illustrated 1895-1899
The Sporting & Dramatic Illustrated
Northern Turf History Volumes 1-4 by J.Fairfax-Blakeborough
The Sporting Magazine
A Long Time Gone by Chris Pitt first published in 1996 ISBN 0 900599 89 8
Racing Calendars which were first published in 1727
